WASHINGTON — Let's be honest... Sustainability can sometimes seem intimidating, especially when it comes to products you use on your face and body. But, a clean and green beauty routine can be easier to put together than you think!
To learn more, WUSA9 spoke with sustainable beauty expert Catie Wiggy.
“There are brands out there looking at their lines, their industry, and how they can make an impact that's good for you as a customer, but also us as a human environment and world,” says Wiggy.
To keep things simple, there are three L's that can help make your beauty regime more eco-friendly.
Less
First, look for less. Use products that have less disposable packaging or products that use less water in their manufacturing.
Wiggy says, “There are brands that are coming out with face washes that contain zero water and are bars, but they're not going to dry out your skin. I think the industry has done a really good way of looking at reducing packaging and secondary packaging.”
Labels
Second, watch for trusted labels. Some companies use greenwashing tactics to make consumers think a product is clean and green when it’s not. Wiggy recommends looking for the Clean Project Label, theLeaping Bunny label, and the Made Safe logo.
“The Made Safe logo goes so far beyond just claiming a product as clean or good for you. They look at the ingredients, the ingredients source, the manufacturing of the raw material, all the way through production to when it's on the shelf,” Wiggy says.
Little
Third, make little adjustments to your current beauty routine. One example? Try swapping out your chemical sunscreen for one that is kinder to the environment.
Wiggy recommends, “looking for mineral-based zinc oxide or titanium-dioxide-based sun pair. Those ingredients are not going to harm the earth or you as a customer and sunscreen is actually one of the things that's bleaching the coral reefs, deteriorating them so quickly, it's just making a really negative impact.”
So, there you have it, the three L’s! Look for less, watch your labels, and start with little adjustments and you’ll be on your way to a clean and green beauty routine!